Biofilms Research Center for Biointerfaces

Biofilms Research Center for Biointerfaces is a multidisciplinary research centre within materials and life sciences. The centre’s activities focus on phenomena associated with biofilms and biobarriers. The practical applications of the research include diagnostics, treatment methods, drug formulation and the use and development of medical implants and sensors.

Our vision is to shape novel solutions for improved health through excellent science in partnership with industry.

Thérese Nordström, Director

Our research

Researchers at the centre include a wide range of experts from the fields of chemistry, biochemistry, materials science, cell and molecular biology, mathematics and microbiology. These experts, with overlapping interests, are advancing research in three core areas:

Facts & Figures 2018

Scientific publications

Biobarriers and pharmaceutical design

Biobarriers and pharmaceutical design include pharmaceutical formulation, transdermal and mucosal drug delivery as well as hydration of biological interfaces, proteins and nanoporous materials.

The research in detail

Hydration of biological interfaces, proteins and nanoporous materials

The functional properties of biological materials and nanomaterials are strongly dependent on their interactions with the surrounding environment, where the presence of water in the form of liquid or vapour is inevitable. We have a special interest in nanoporous materials, such as mesoporous silica, and we study their hydration, characterisation and interactions with organic molecules and biomolecules. We also study the hydration of carbohydrate materials, such as cellulose. In the drug delivery field, we work with the interaction of solid excipients with water; hydration of proteins; hydration and phase transitions in lipids; and hydration of biological barriers.

Pharmaceutical formulation

In the development of transdermal and topical formulations it is important to understand how formulation ingredients interact with the molecular components of the skin barrier and thereby influence its macroscopic barrier properties. Our research activities focus on the effects of commonly used excipients and other chemicals, such as penetration enhancers, on the molecular, as well as the macroscopic, properties of the skin membrane. We also investigate how nanomaterials, such as mesoporous silica particles, can be used in controlled release applications. The advantage of mesoporous silica, such as MCM-41 and SBA-15, is that these materials have remarkable properties due to their well-defined structure with tunable pore diameter and narrow pore size distribution, which can be optimised for loading and controlled release of drugs or biomolecules.

Transdermal and mucosal drug delivery

The skin barrier (the stratum corneum) is an effective permeability barrier. Despite this, the skin is an attractive alternative to the oral route for drug delivery because it avoids first pass metabolic degradation, which can be an important advantage for certain drugs. Two common strategies to overcome the skin barrier for increased transdermal drug delivery are to increase skin hydration and add a penetration enhancer. Our research focuses on how hydration affects skin permeability, with and without penetration enhancers. Our approach is to combine several experimental methods to obtain both macroscopic and molecular scale information on how hydration and penetration enhancers influence the stratum corneum.

Biobarriers

We focus on advancing the knowledge of the key physicochemical properties of biointerfaces, and how they determine the interactions with biomolecules in solutions. In order to achieve this, we develop biomimetic systems that aim at mimicking specific biobarriers in an easily producible and reproducible manner. The biobarriers we are interested in include cellular membranes, plant cell walls and blood vessels. Currently, we are applying these biomimetic systems to improve our understanding of the onset and treatment of various diseases such as atherosclerosis and bacterial infections.

Finding answers to the puzzle of cholesterol

Atherosclerosis is a major cause of heart attacks and is linked to the body’s levels of so-called ‘good’ and ‘bad’ cholesterol. Professor Marité Cardena's research group is using artificial tools to understand how cholesterol affects the risk of atherosclerosis. Watch the interview with Cardenas to learn more about the project.

Biofilms at interfaces

Microorganisms have a strong tendency to associate with surfaces and form adherent microbial communities, known as biofilms. Within this field, we study mechanisms by which bacteria adapt to and survive in the biofilm environment, as well studying the salivary and mucosal barrier.

The research in detail

Oral microbiology

In any environment, macromolecules and micro-organisms have a strong tendency to associate with surfaces and form adherent microbial communities, so-called biofilms, which are now recognised as the cause of most infectious diseases. Our goal is to understand the mechanisms by which oral bacteria acquire virulence in biofilms and to identify key points of intervention. We anticipate that our results will contribute to the development of future anti-microbials that target disease-inducing properties in biofilms rather than specific microorganisms.

Saliva research

Our main focus is the study of salivary pellicles — the film of nanometric dimensions that forms immediately upon contact of saliva with almost any type of surface. Pellicles play an important role in the maintenance of oral health, as they protect and lubricate oral surfaces. Our aim is to better understand the mechanisms underlying salivary lubrication. We also study the mechanisms underlying the protection offered by salivary pellicles against dental erosion and how this can be improved by complementing acidic beverages with anti-erosive compounds.

Biotherapeutics

Bacterial proteases are a driving force for the inflammatory responses involved in both periodontitis and cardiovascular disease. Our aim is to develop advanced technological tools based on an array of biomarkers (bacterial proteases and inflammatory mediators) to aid the identification of individuals at risk of severe alveolar bone loss disease, as well as the prediction and treatment of periodontal disease and associated inflammatory disorders.

Smart materials at interfaces

Smart materials at interfaces include bioelectronics (biosensors and biological power sources), oral implants and artifical biomimicry with biological applications.

The research in detail

Biosensors and implantable bioelectronics

Research on biosensors and implantable bioelectronics is focussed on development of specific analytical devices and methods for monitoring clinically relevant analytes and biomarkers, as well as the development of potentially implantable electric power devices. It includes synthesis and characterisation of nanomaterials, development of novel sensing and power generating principles, as well as assessment of biosensor and biofuel cell performance in clinical and implantable situations. Our research strength lies in electrochemical sensors and enzymatic fuel cells. Lately, we have exploited biosensor approaches for the investigation of processes at biological barriers, tested enzymatic fuel cells in human blood under homeostatic conditions, as well as disclosed a new type of bioelectronic device – self-charging biosupercapacitors.

Mathematical modelling

Scientific computing and simulations of phenomena on micro and macroscopic scales is a field of great scientific importance. General mathematical techniques, such as differential equations, combined with computational methods, allow a very broad range of applications. Our main focus is on three different areas: computational quantum physics; modelling of infectious diseases; and resonance spectrum for stratified media.

Artficial biomimicry

Biomimicry (defined as the imitation of life or nature) is used in biomedicine and biotechnology to develop novel treatments and diagnostic methods. We focus on two major areas within biomimicry. The first being the development of novel diagnostic tools for cancer. And secondly, biomimetic systems for better understanding of the onset and treatment of diseases including atherosclerosis and bacterial infections.

Finding new and better ways to diagnose and treat cancer is one of a pressing task for researchers. Early diagnosis, where the cancer is still curable, is therefore crucial. This emphasises the need for sensitive, robust and affordable diagnostic tools that can sense the cellular state, commonly in the form of tumour-specific protein markers, early on in the process. We are developing and using molecularly imprinted polymers, plastic antibodies and other smart materials to detect and sense previously inaccessible tumour markers and discover novel disease biomarkers.